I tell my story because mine is just one single story in amongst the millions of Bame people who support
and contribute to the social, cultural and economic fortunes of this country with flare and vitality. There is
no single story in relation to migration.
Despite these unrelenting painful journeys and experiences, I have felt the love, connection and deep
friendships from many white people. Most friends, family and work colleagues have not sought to put me
back in my place or send me home. I derive hope from these human connections. I believe that the vast
majority of people stand up for equality and diversity. And yet racism continues to run through the
structures of our society.
As Donald Trump and Boris Johnson’s comments prove, it appears that some of the most powerful people
in this world do not understand that we exist in relation to others. When those in power deliver messages
that Bame people don’t belong, that our appearances are there to be mocked, that we surely cannot be
offended by an offhand comment made in “jest”, those messages produce anger, outrage and stress because
we have to make sense of the experience of racism. We have to draw strength in order to manage the impact
of everyday racism.
Our leaders would do well to understand that this damaging rhetoric with its frightening undercurrents is
harmful. Johnson may well have plans to fill our streets with more bobbies on the beat, but this does not
mean that Bame communities will feel any safer when you consider controversies around stop and search,
and particularly if recruitment drives fail to deliver a more diverse force. If mentally we are struggling to
compute the racist comments of the leader of our country, we cannot physically relax.
In 2019 we are witnessing political acrobatics of the worst kind, a kind that robs people of their wellbeing
and their sense of belonging. Where the continued rhetoric of denial of home and citizenship remains in the
driving seat, we are subject to having our histories and lived experiences explained away in a few tweets.
Politicians must find a way to restore faith and trust between communities to ensure that everybody feels
like they belong.
Susan Cousins is the author of ‘Overcoming Everyday Racism’, and equality and diversity project officer at
Cardiff University. The views expressed above are the personal views of Susan Cousins, and do not necessarily
reflect the views of Cardiff University